Publication details

Zanubrutinib Versus Ibrutinib in Relapsed/Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia and Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma: Interim Analysis of a Randomized Phase III Trial

Authors	HILLMEN Peter EICHHORST Barbara BROWN Jennifer R LAMANNA Nicole BRIEN Susan M TAM Constantine S QIU Lugui KAZMIERCZAK Maciej ZHOU Keshu SIMKOVIC Martin MAYER Jiří GILLESPIE-TWARDY Amanda SHADMAN Mazyar FERRAJOLI Alessandra GANLY Peter S WEINKOVE Robert GROSICKI Sebastian MITAL Andrzej ROBAK Tadeusz OSTERBORG Anders YIMER Habte A SALMI Tommi JI Meng YECIES Jessica IDOINE Adam WU Kenneth HUANG Jane JURCZAK Wojciech
Year of publication	2023
Type	Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source	Journal of clinical oncology
MU Faculty or unit	Faculty of Medicine
Citation
Web	https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.22.00510
Doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.1200/JCO.22.00510
Keywords	Zanubrutinib; Ibrutinib; Relapsed/Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia; Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma
Description	PURPOSE Zanubrutinib is a potent, irreversible next-generation Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor designed to maximize BTK occupancy and minimize off-target kinase inhibition. We hypothesized that complete/sustained BTK occupancy may improve efficacy outcomes and increased BTK specificity may minimize off-target inhibition-related toxicities.PATIENTS AND METHODS ALPINE (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: ) is a global, randomized, open-label phase III study of zanubrutinib versus ibrutinib in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The primary end point was investigator-assessed overall response rate (ORR). The preplanned interim analysis was scheduled approximately 12 months after the first 415 patients were enrolled.RESULTS Between November 1, 2018, and December 14, 2020, 652 patients were enrolled. We present the interim analysis of the first 415 enrolled patients randomly assigned to receive zanubrutinib (n = 207) or ibrutinib (n = 208). At 15 months of median follow-up, ORR (partial or complete response) was significantly higher with zanubrutinib (78.3%; 95% CI, 72.0 to 83.7) versus ibrutinib (62.5%; 95% CI, 55.5 to 69.1; two-sided P < .001). ORR was higher with zanubrutinib versus ibrutinib in subgroups with del(17p)/TP53 mutations (80.5% v 50.0%) and del(11q) (83.6% v 69.1%); 12-month progression-free survival in all patients was higher with zanubrutinib (94.9%) versus ibrutinib (84.0%; hazard ratio, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.23 to 0.69). Atrial fibrillation rate was significantly lower with zanubrutinib versus ibrutinib (2.5% v 10.1%; two-sided P = .001). Rates of cardiac events, major hemorrhages, and adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation/death were lower with zanubrutinib.CONCLUSION Zanubrutinib had a significantly higher ORR, lower atrial fibrillation rate, and improved progression-free survival and overall cardiac safety profile versus ibrutinib. These data support improved efficacy/safety outcomes with selective BTK inhibition.